Hebron, Tue 1.3.11, Afternoon

Translation: Bracha B.A.

We decided to arrive later than usual in order to see Hebron in the middle of the day. IDF Vehicles are on the move and blocking junctions throughout the day. There is an army jeep at the junction between Routes 60 and 317.  There is also a temporary roadblock at the turnoff to Samo'ah and soldiers are checking vehicles. As soon as we stopped there, everyone was allowed to pass – was it because of our presence or pure coincidence?. 

At the entrance to Kiryat Arba as well as throughout Hebron itself, posters announce: "Bibi, you've shot yourself in the foot in the Gile'ad Farm" (see photo, above)

Hebron

The Tzabar unit of the Give'ati Brigade is manning all checkpoints except for the pharmacy checkpoint. Suddenly, it is Border Police soldiers that are positioned there and they tell us that's how it will be from now on. They delay people for much longer. Two detainees who are there tell us that they are there for already half an hour and that they get delayed on a daily basis, sometimes even more than once, when moving from H1 to H2. We wait and again, our presence seems to make a difference: their papers are returned.

On the road leading to Tel Rumeyda there's a grocery store. Yesterday, a settler threw a stone at its window, breaking it – as reported by Yehudit. We now arrive in order to take pictures (above). A television crew from AP is there too and we exchanged phone numbers. While we were there, we received a phone call from Ezra Nawi who informed us that a minibus with children and teachers is being detained by the IDF next to Sussiya. We called the regional brigade and ask for their "release". They promise that so will be done.

Patriarchs' Tombs' Cave: The Jewish entry landing is buzzing with people. A bus from the Gush Etzion Regional Council is parked next to Abed's store. "Am Yisrael is paying its respect" – Gideon Sa'ar (Minister of Education) would have been delighted.

The army is in position and there is even a car marked as belonging to the sharpshooters' brigade. We entered from the main entry-way. A soldier from the Border Police stops our car, asking "is everyone Jewish here (inside car)?" M., our driver, says that he isn't and so is asked to show his ID. Our own papers, offered there and then for similar inspection, are pushed away. Following a short inspection and some whisperings on the walkie-talkie we are allowed to go "just tell them to drive on the Jewish side" the voice on the walkie-talkie instructs. Great! We've been "kosherized", but this doesn't change the racism, openly reflected everywhere here.  

As the media reported "price tag" events taking place arount town, we attempted to find out where they occur, to no avail. Palestinians advised us to look here or there, the police didn't know and the soldiers had no idea. Finally, we decided to drive on to Jabel Jallas neighborhoodsituated south of Kiryat Arba, above Jabel Juhar, which is also mentioned because of its proximity to Kiryat Arba.

We drove through the industrial zone of Kiryat Arba and were greeted by Ofer Ohana, our settler "friend" who always photographs us photographing him photographing us. As usual he had snide comments, half-liking half-despising these odd women. He too didn't hear a thing although is generous enough to retort: "oh, yah! if you're looking for action, then a mosque was burned down yesterday… ha-ha-ha!"   

The Kiryat-Arba guards, too – who, by the way, are residents of Kiryat-Arba as well as receiving their training and support form the IDF – had no idea and dismissed us with contemptuous remarks. So there was no testimony or witnesses to what was reported in the media.

We decided to leave as we made an early appointment with the Abu Kabita family at the Metzudot Yehuda checkpoint to see what how we might be able to help there.

But our car had a mind of its own and refused to start. Surprisingly, Ofer Ohana and a few other people tried to help us and where even willing to persuade those who refused ("What, to help those of Machsom Watch who disturb the soldiers?" to which Ohana replied "yes! One must help!"). So they gave us contact details of tow truck and a garage and we had to cancel our meeting and await those to arrive, leaving with my husband who came to pick us up.